And to enhance our excitement, they’ve also announced a new eleven date headline tour of the UK, starting in November. Check out the song and tour dates in full below – tickets for all shows go on sale at 10am on Friday 13 September, and are available here.

NOVEMBER
25 BRIGHTON The Haunt
26 SHEFFIELD Leadmill
28 WORCESTER Marrs Bar
29 COVENTRY Kasbah

DECEMBER
01 CHESTER The Live Rooms
03 SOUTHAMPTON Joiners
04 SWINDON Level 3
05 CARDIFF Clwb Ifor Bach
06 MILTON KEYNES MK 11
07 EDINBURGH Opium
08 NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms

From the peaceful and emotional sets that took place under a canopy of trees, to the raucous mayhem over at the main stage that had us thrown into the most fun pits we’ve ever experienced – this festival really does have it all.

Lucky for us, we were there to check out the whole thing, braving the heat and having the time of our lives.

Words: Yasmin Brown [YB], Gem Rogers [GR] Images: Penny Bennett [PB], Matt Higgs [MH]

If there’s one thing that’s guaranteed to kick off a festival the right way, pop punk is it. Despite many still battling their tents into position, Liverpool’s WSTR have pulled a sizeable crowd out into the sunshine at the main stage – and it only takes the likes of ‘Tell Me More’ and ‘Bad To The Bone’ to get things moving. Their punkier approach to the genre makes them one of the most enjoyable bands the UK has produced in a long time – and though they don’t have quite the same level of energy as usual this morning, the finale of upbeat anthem ‘Crisis’ is more than enough to get 2000trees off to a fantastic and enjoyable start. [GR]

At almost the opposite end of the spectrum, Bristolians Phoxjaw pump the nearby Neu Stage full of darkened atmosphere with their loud and powerful alt rock. Featuring a mixture of tracks from debut EP ‘Goodbye Dinosaur…’ and the recently released ‘A Playground For Sad Adults’, this set is nothing short of flawless; expansive and intricate, every riff rings out with perfect clarity, whilst Danny Garland’s impressive vocals tie everything together for what already feels like one of the most memorable sets of the weekend. Phoxjaw are only just getting started – and things couldn’t look much better for this quartet’s future. [GR]

Londoners Wallflower are next up on the Neu Stage, with a much mellower set than the preceding Phoxjaw. In fact, it’s a bit hard to tell they’ve even started, with an overly understated move from soundcheck to performance, and they struggle to capture the audience’s attention. Wallflower have a lot of promise, but this unfortunately is not a set that shows them at their best, as songs merge together and lack the energy they possess on record. Though today might not have been their day, Wallflower are still a band brimming with potential, and their upcoming debut album may well ignite a new fire – watch this space. [GR]

The first of our many ‘Forest Sessions’ is spent with YONAKA, a band we’re wholly familiar with yet of whom we never find ourselves getting bored. As a band that likes to make the most of a large festival stage, it would have been easy for this tiny wooden stand to seem restricting, however front woman, Theresa Jarvis, maintains energy and oozes attitude, despite the small space. It’s a stage they’ve played before – in fact was the very first stage they ever played at a festival a few years ago – and they’ve more than made the most of the opportunity today, with the setting only further highlighting Jarvis’ incredible vocals. It’s a special moment for fans of Yonaka, an increasingly rare opportunity to witness this band in such an intimate setting, and one they’ll be holding on for for years to come. [YB]

A similar experience is in store for fans of Holding Absence too, as they take their turn on the miniature stage in the forest. Appearing in a “Self-love is punk rock” t-shirt, front man Lucas Woodland showcases his immensely powerful and emotive voice. The band’s music is already melancholy, but this emotion is amplified by the tranquil setting of the sheltered forest and the acoustically driven vibe of the set. Fan favourite, ‘Monochrome’ is a particular showstopper for both fans and band, as the crowd’s voices overpower that of Lucas as the chorus kicks in. The performance provokes goosebumps and strengthens the fan-band relationship as it gives Woodland an opportunity to chat to the crowd, something he claims he doesn’t get to do much. During his mini monologues, we learn that while they may “look gnarly”, they are “not a gnarly band”, and in this quiet and respectful environment – such a stark contrast to their usual shows – you almost believe it. [YB]

2000Trees is one of our favourite places to discover new music, and over in the Neu tent, Novacub – who take to the stage, rocking ‘90s inspired outfits and bringing with them a giant bear head which remains a feature of the stage layout for the duration of the performance – are just one of the bands we happily discovered over the weekend. While this band of extremely cool women have only officially released two tracks at this point in their careers (with, we’ve learnt a third on the way soon), they fill their 30-minute set with ease, filling the half-full tent with energy and enthusiasm which more than makes up for the sparsity in the crowd. With a novel offering, there’s no reason as to why Novacub won’t slowly but surely pick up a fierce following as they release continue to release new music. [YB]

Fast becoming one of Punktastic’s favourite bands, Puppy’s afternoon slot on the main stage is an unquestionable highlight of the whole weekend. With metal undertones and metal-like talent, combined with a pop-punk vibe, Puppy are sure to appeal to almost everyone in attendance. The crowd continually grows throughout the performance, reaching a point where – despite it still being early in the evening – it becomes a struggle to get anywhere close to the stage, highlighting the impact the band has made during their two previous Trees performances. There’s an indescribable level of energy rippling through the crowd that is reflected on stage right up until the very last note and our only regret is that it has to end. [YB]

Never a band to be ignored, Loathe entice a huge and rowdy crowd into The Axiom tent for music that isn’t just loud – it’s dirty, exciting, and properly bloody interesting. And when we say interesting, do not under any circumstances read ‘dull’ – their fusion of djent into an industrial, almost oppressively heavy style means they sound unlike anyone else on the circuit, and it’s absolutely crushing inside this tent. Vocalist Kadeem France brings plenty of expressive energy along with it for one hell of a kick start to the heavier side of 2000trees. [GR]

Conjurer are building quite the reputation for themselves this year, and their set at Download just over a month ago was one of the most discussed of the weekend – here at Trees, though, it’s possibly just a little too early and a little too brutal, as the Axiom tent is much quieter than would be expected for this powerhouse of a band. This doesn’t detract from another flawlessly thunderous and atmospheric performance from the Warwickshire four, including a spine-tingling moment when vocalist and guitarist Dan Nightingale steps down onto the barrier and, without a microphone, sends his guttural voice to echo around the space. Conjurer are coming to take over the world – and they won’t be doing it gently. [GR]

In stark contrast to their earlier forest session, Yonaka’s main stage performance brings with it the perfect opportunity to lose your mind. As Theresa Jarvis struts her way across the stage, members of the crowd ignore the sticky humidity and persistently throw their arms in the arm, singing along passionately to each and every song, not least obvious favourites ‘Ignorance’ and ‘Rockstar’. Despite the nature of their stunning early afternoon forest session, the band seem far more comfortable on this much larger stage, playing to an audience 10 times the size of the one played to earlier in the day, and it’s a treat to have been able to witness two such polar opposite performances. As the set draws to a close, we’re hit with a brutal reminder of everything we’ve come to this festival to forget, as Jarvis dedicates ‘Don’t Wait Til Tomorrow’ to anyone “dealing with shit”. While acting as a potentially painful reminder of life outside the confines of the trees, it’s also a reminder that you’re not alone – somehow perfectly encompassing the entire message this festival seems to convey. [YB]

The noisiest thing to ever come out of Harrogate (although to be fair, there’s not much competition), Blood Youth made a shift in sound earlier this year with sophomore album ‘Starve’. The result is a band whose live performance is more powerful and impressive than ever – and, as anyone who’s had the pleasure of seeing the four piece before will know, that’s no mean feat. Grinding, thunderingly melodic, and utterly relentless, the delivery is full of passion and the crowd respond in kind with huge pits taking over the Neu tent. The set pulls primarily from the nu-metal influenced ‘Starve’, with the sublime bass and riffs of ‘Nerve’ being a particular highlight, but earlier tracks from debut ‘Beyond Repair’ still fit in well; ‘I Remember’ receives an especially high energy welcome as crowdsurfers pour over the barrier. By the end of this set, closed with the riff-heavy album title track ‘Starve’, there can be no doubt in anyone’s mind that Blood Youth are one of British metal’s brightest lights, and we look forward to their inevitable headline slots in future. [GR]

If there’s any name that is synonymous with hardcore, Comeback Kid is surely it. The Canadians have been at the top of the game for almost twenty years, and show no signs of slowing down; despite us now nearing the end of a long, hot day, they tear through The Cave with the force of a Category 5 hurricane, taking the (very) willing crowd with them. The tent is almost bursting at the seams as bodies clamber over each other. The spirit of hardcore is well and truly alive as the setlist picks its way through their back catalogue. Comeback Kid are absolute masters of the stage, and it feels all too soon when the set is brought to a close with the hugely popular ‘Wake The Dead’ – long may they continue to dominate. [GR]

For some bands, two sets in one day might feel excessive. For others – it’s still not enough. Holding Absence easily fall into that second category as they take the headlining slot on the Neu stage, and within moments of the haunting opening notes of ‘Perish’, it feels like this is the set we’ve been waiting for all day. For any newcomers to the band, it’s an almost perfect introduction to everything they are, and are capable of – there is truly a feeling of witnessing something special during this set. From the huge singalongs on ‘Monochrome’ and ‘Your Love (Has Ruined My Life)’ to the utterly beautiful, soaring melodies of ‘Wilt’, and the high energy of ‘Like A Shadow’, there is a love that ripples through the air and catches anyone in its path; more than simply a show, this is an experience, and one that leaves plenty of smiles on faces in this packed tent. Holding Absence are still a young band, and with surely even bigger things to come, their future is looking incredibly exciting – we can’t wait to see it. [GR]

At the same time as Frank Turner takes to the main stage, While She Sleeps are playing to a packed out crowd in The Cave. While front man, Lawrence ‘Loz’ Taylor has to pull out due to a last minute emergency, this doesn’t even come close to hindering the band’s performance. It kicks off with a nod to the band’s 2017 album ‘You Are We’, a notion that is fully encompassed as the lead singers of other bands in attendance take to the stage to fill in for Loz. While there is no replacing him, the sentiment is stunning, making it – arguably – even more special. The likes of Holding Absence’s Lucas Woodland and Comeback Kid’s Andrew Neufeld are among the few that took on the challenge, and despite the late notice, no-one stutters or stumbles over the lyrics, highlighting just how well-loved While She Sleeps continue to be. As far as the fans are concerned, it’s as if nothing at all is amiss, as the entire Cave goes berserk regardless of the vitally missing piece, causing absolute mayhem as the various front men join the band. It’s a beautiful and heartwarming end to the night, and one that will never again be replicated. It feels as though we’ve just been a part of something historic. [YB]

Frank Turner and 2000trees go together like… well, Frank Turner and 2000trees. There’s a massive amount of affection for this folk-punk legend here at trees- and if it wasn’t obvious in advance (the campsite named in his honour is a hefty clue), the vast crowd at the main stage for the weekend’s first headliner should clear it up for anyone in doubt. Although the festival covers a wide array of genres, there’s something about Turner’s uplifting folk rock that feels like it goes hand-in-hand with the vibe here; as he pulls out favourite tracks one after another, thousands of voices carry across the field alongside his. There’s even some special celebrations, with one fan marking his fiftieth show and another his hundredth – and as there is, of course, only one appropriate way to mark such an occasion, they are both sent on a crowdsurfing mission into the middle for a high five and a hug. Aww. With tracks like ‘Get Better’, ‘The Way I Tend To Be’, and ‘Recovery’ making an appearance in the eighteen song set, this hour (and a bit) we spent with Turner and The Sleeping Souls is truly cathartic and joyous, full of good humour and community spirit – the perfect way to round off this first day down at the main stage. [GR]

There’s so much on, it can be difficult to choose who to see – so here’s some of our top picks for the weekend to get you started!

THURSDAY

WSTR

Main Stage, 12:50pm

After opening the main stage at Slam Dunk this year, WSTR are back to do the same for 2000 Trees – and what better way to start a festival than with punchy, riotous pop punk? Keep comparisons to Neck Deep away; WSTR have an attitude and energy that’s all their own. Make sure your tent is up nice and early, and get down for a bounce around.

Phoxjaw

Neu Stage, 1.20pm

After an absolute beauty of a debut EP in ‘Goodbye Dinosaur…’ and tours aplenty, Phoxjaw are ready to make a few waves this year. Their second EP is set for release a few days before 2000trees begins, with new singles ‘Monday Man’ and the darkly fascinating ‘Melt, You’re A Face Of Wax’ proving that the Bristol four piece have plenty more to offer. Heavy, progressive, atmospheric, and just a little bit unpredictable, Phoxjaw are to be missed at your peril.

Puppy

Main Stage, 3.50pm

If you haven’t heard of Puppy yet, you can’t have spent much time on the internet since they released debut album ‘The Goat’ last year. Every man and his, er, puppy is raving about this band, and no wonder, with thundering heaviness, gorgeous harmonies, and chunky riffs seeping from every pore. Puppy do exactly what they want to do, usually with a fair dose of good humour, and it’s earning them legions of fans – this has all the hallmarks of being one of those sets that everyone talks about, and you’d hate to be the person who couldn’t join in, right?

Blood Youth

Neu Stage, 7.10pm

Harrogate racket-making mob Blood Youth are on a roll this year. Leaning away from the melodic hardcore of their debut and picking up some distinctly nu-metal sounds for sophomore album ‘Starve’, the band have established an altogether more powerful and unique identity. Explosive, heavy riffs, emotive lyrics, and phenomenal vocals from front man Kaya Tarsus will be order of the day over on the Neu Stage for this 40 minute set. Let’s mosh.

Holding Absence

Neu Stage, 8.50pm and Forest Sessions, 3.05pm

Let’s make one thing clear – Team Punktastic love Holding Absence. A lot. And so should you – their soaring, immersive post-rock taps into every emotion with a delicate subtlety and heaps of heart, while never neglecting a solid anthemic chorus – see ‘Your Love (Has Ruined My Life)’ and ‘Monochrome’ for reference. With this headline set there’ll be plenty of time to absorb the intense experience of a Holding Absence live performance, and it’ll be the perfect chance to see just about every song in their current back catalogue. We’ll be down the front, having a cry as we sing until our lungs collapse. Please join us.

FRIDAY

PENGSHUi

The Cave, 12.25pm

If holding one of the best band names of 2019 isn’t enough to tempt you in for this set, we don’t really know what to tell you. Actually, we do – get up early (ish), and get to The Cave for a unique blend of grime, punk, and metal that’s heavy on the bass and beats. If that sounds like a ridiculous combination, all the more reason to let PENGSHUi show you just how well it works, as they form such a cohesive sound you can only wonder why nobody’s done it quite like this before.

GroundCulture

The Cave, 1.20pm

Newcastle’s GroundCulture have already been demonstrating their strength on the festival circuit this year, having opened Download’s Dogtooth Stage only a few weeks ago – now, it’s 2000trees’ turn to see what they can do. With an EP packed with heavy, uplifting melodic hardcore, the five piece are well on their way to proving themselves across the country, and they’re more than capable of bringing every bit of that energy to the stage. The Cave is the place to be for mosh pits and face-crushing riffs aplenty on Friday afternoon.

Dream State

Main Stage, 2pm

Only two EPs into their career – though there is, happily, a full length album in the works – Dream State have already proven themselves to be nothing short of titans on stage. Heartfelt, honest lyrics coupled with vocalist CJ Gilpin’s passionate performances have allowed the band to form a deep connection with their fanbase, while their post-hardcore riffs give plenty of opportunities for some almighty pits and dancing. Expect one of the most inclusive, empowering sets of the weekend from this Welsh group.

Hands Like Houses

Main Stage, 4pm

Bringing a firmly international flavour to Friday’s proceedings, Aussies Hands Like Houses are almost guaranteed to give you the bangover to end all bangovers – hopefully you’ve recovered from any actual hangovers by this point of the day, otherwise… Ouch. Their combination of insane riffage and Trenton Woodley’s unbelievable vocals, not to mention their electric stage presence and the serious singalong potential on tracks like ‘Colourblind’ and ‘Monster’, is not to be missed.

Watercolours

Forest Sessions, 6.10pm

After a high energy afternoon of headbanging chaos and plenty of sun (and there WILL be plenty of sun…), what better way to wind down than with some dreamy, atmospheric indie pop? With beautiful layering and electronic elements linking soaring choruses, local trio Watercolours are true to their name – soothing and colourful, this will be the perfect half hour to lose yourself in the forest.

SATURDAY

Normandie

The Cave, 1.50pm

In the three years since the release of debut album ‘Inguz’, Normandie barely seem to have stopped to catch a breath. After a support slot on Yellowcard’s final European tour put the Swedes firmly on the map in late 2016, they’ve completed more than a few laps of the UK for both tours and festival appearances and released their mammoth sophomore album ‘White Flag’ in October 2018. This is their first appearance at 2000trees, and it’ll be jam packed with anthemic choruses, elevating riffs, and thundering breakdowns, topped off with mindblowing vocals from Philip Strand. If you want a new favourite band, we’ve probably just found it for you.

Lotus Eater

The Cave, 2.45pm

If you like your music technical, disgustingly heavy, and with just a dash of destruction about it, Glaswegian metal quintet Lotus Eater will answer all your prayers. And then some. Sophomore EP ‘Social Hazard’ only just scrapes past the fifteen minute mark, but it’s an aural assault from start to finish, and their live performance brings just as much ferocious energy to the stage – it’s lucky they’re playing on the final day, because The Cave may not be left standing after this one.

Ducking Punches

Forest Sessions, 4.15pm

One-time solo project and now four-piece folk rock group, Ducking Punches will be bringing some of the most emotive tracks of the weekend to their Forest Sessions set. Dan Allen’s lyrics are frequently brutally honest, set to foot tapping beats and lively riffs that are sure to be magical in this intimate woodland setting.

Delaire, The Liar

Neu Stage, 4.35pm

There may only be two of them, but Londoners Delaire, The Liar know how to make plenty of noise. Vocalist Ffin Colley is nothing short of astounding and Delaire’s live sets have a tantalisingly wild quality about them – unique and genre-defying, they are quite simply Delaire, The Liar. Missing this set would be nothing short of a mistake.

Can’t Swim

The Cave, 5.50pm

With a sound that pulls on the heavier elements of pop-punk and even dips into the punk rock style of Alkaline Trio, New Jersey quartet Can’t Swim have a rawness and honesty that speaks to all troubled souls. There’s huge power in these haunting melodies and creative instrumentation, and their audience are equally passionate – come down to The Cave for a thoroughly therapeutic singalong, and you won’t regret it.

Every Time I Die

Main Stage, 7.50pm

‘Hot Damn!’ in full. Do we actually need to say anything more? This will be loud and riotous. Be there.

For an even bigger taster of what’s in store at 2000trees, we’ve put together a massive Spotify playlist to whet your appetite – check it out below, and we’ll see you this weekend!

Metalcore legends Atreyu will be making their Slam Dunk debut and are joined by The Word Alive and Pagan.

Other bands confirmed for the May bank holiday festivals include Real Friends, Seaway, WSTR and Milk Teeth.

It follows the addition of The Bronx, Cancer Bats and Angel Du$t to the Impericon stage, which will be headlined by Glassjaw.

Slam Dunk Festival 2019 will take place at Leeds’ Temple Newsam Park on Saturday 25 May and Hatfield Park on Sunday 26 May. Tickets are available here.

Opening band Hey Charlie deliver well-rehearsed retro pop, with all three members taking on vocal duties for constant two and three part harmonies. It’s slick, but repetitive, and largely uninspiring – as a result, they don’t seem to attract much interest from the sparse early crowd (aside from one rowdy punter near the bar). Hey Charlie are sure to find a market for their distinctive style, but it’s unlikely to feature many of tonight’s attendees.

Australia’s Between You & Me are on their first tour of the UK, and emerge to a still fairly muted audience – but it couldn’t be a more different story by the end of their nine song set, made up primarily of tracks from debut album ‘Everything Is Temporary’. Though it takes a little while for the room to really warm up, BYAM are relentless in the pursuit of crowd participation – and in the end, it turns out there’s no lack of fans awaiting the chance to join in with the singalongs on this joyous, infectious brand of pop punk. Finishing with the eminently scream-alongable ‘Dakota’, vocalist Jake Wilson takes the opportunity to clamber onto the balcony and leap down for ultimate crowdsurfing (and crowdpleasing) points in a moment that defines the lively nature of this band. BYAM are an absolute delight to watch and put on a solid performance – if you love pop punk, it’s definitely time to pay attention to these Aussies.

There’s no mistaking that it’s a sold out show by the time WSTR take to the stage; the room is absolutely heaving, with most people reluctant to take to the tiered seating area at the back. It’s understandable – WSTR are definitely not a band to sit politely to… And it’s probably helpful if you don’t value your personal space too much, either. Opening with two tracks from ‘Identity Crisis’, the response is such that it’s hard to believe the album was only released a little over three months ago – ‘Tell Me More’ leaps into the impossibly catchy, bouncing ‘Riddle Me This’, and bounce is exactly what the entire floor does.

There’s an early dampener on the mood as venue security put a quick halt to any crowdsurfing and shoulder-climbing antics, but the eager crowd are quick to make up for it in other ways. “When we jump, you jump,” vocalist Sammy Clifford insists, “when we go crazy, you go crazy!” Nobody seems to really need this encouragement, though; as the opening notes of ‘Footprints’ play, the entire room is engulfed by a pit – a common theme for the remainder of the evening.

The show is dripping in snarling but good-humoured attitude; this is, satisfyingly, pop punk that definitely hasn’t forgotten about the punk. As the band bounce back and forth between songs from their two albums, along with a dip into earlier EP ‘SKRWD’, there’s a perfect balance between poppier hooks and no-holds-barred, drum-thrashing aggression. There’s only a brief spell of quiet for the mellow ‘See You In Hell’ – WSTR may have promised never to do this kind of acoustic number, but there’s a definite need for a break from the pace (before absolutely everyone passes out), and it’s a unifying, singalong moment.

The night’s sadly not without technical demons, as Clifford seems to be plagued by issues with his in-ears – though he does well to disguise it as much as possible, it reaches a peak during first encore track ‘Crisis’ and results in him dropping vocals for a significant portion of the track. The fans are more than happy to fill in, but it’s a shame for technical troubles to affect this otherwise full-energy performance.

As the set is drawn to a close with ‘Red, Green Or Inbetween’ track ‘Lonely Smiles’, there’s a sense of joy permeating the room and little sign of the pit slowing down; everyone is enjoying this night as much as the band themselves appear to, and the fun is infectious. The intimacy of a venue like Deaf Institute suits WSTR’s style and has that glorious, sweaty, community vibe – yet there’s little doubt that they have the energy and skill to captivate a far larger room. With performances like this, there’s even less doubt that they’ll be selling those out in the near future, too.

GEM ROGERS

Details of the seven date tour can be found below, with tickets going on general sale on Friday, September 7 and pre-orders from Wednesday, September 5. Find tickets for all dates here.

DECEMBER
07 LONDON Underworld
09 BRISTOL Exchange
10 BIRMINGHAM o2 Academy 3
11 MANCHESTER Deaf Institute
13 LEEDS Key Club
14 GLASGOW Classic Grand
15 NEWCASTLE Think Tank

Right from the very beginning of this record it’s clear that WSTR have evolved. The sound is slick and polished and more professional than ever. ‘Tell Me More’ is a punchy pop punk gem, a perfect tone setter for what’s to come. ‘Bad To The Bone’ bounces its way through three and a half minutes of pure, infectious fun. ‘Hide Everything Sharp’ and ‘Crisis’ are both radio friendly mammoths, the latter featuring a chorus that begs for a mass singalong.

There are parts of this record that show a side of the band we haven’t seen before. ‘See You In Hell’ is an ever growing ballad, planting seeds in acoustic tones that blossom into a full band with huge distorted guitars. ‘Fling’ boasts an almost bluesy feel from beginning to end. It stays rooted in pop punk with vocal melodies and a soaring chorus, but the chords have a Jimi Hendrix-like feel to them which fit perfectly. Album closer ‘Riddle Me This’ is a nod to classic pop punk, featuring everything that makes this genre crammed into one song. This is the same WSTR that you know and love, but bigger and better.

It’s very common in pop punk to write powerful and emotional songs which still sound fun. It’s one of the best things about the genre. That ability to find shreds of joy in the saddest places is impossible not to love. So many bands try to do this and miss the mark, but WSTR are not among them. This record is a prime example of how to marry the two with ease. Every track tackles a sensitive subject, but you’ll find yourself smiling throughout. ‘Identity Crisis’ is a refreshing and giant leap forwards for the band. If you aren’t already a fan of WSTR, you will be now.

DAVE STEWART

Check out the video for ‘Bad To The Bone’: